How crowded has Navigator been lately?

[neverlaysup]

Going to take a quick 5 day jaunt out of LA soon and wondering how crowded the Navigator of the Seas has been for these sailings?

[T-2]

Probably less crowded than ours, we just got off Friday the 15th so we were part of the CA spring break crowds, you should have a lot fewer kids, I believe we had 2,700 roughly.  People were pretty good about complying with the lifeboat drill check in and the captain mentioned 1400 had completed it and we only had 300 who still needed to do that if they wanted to stay onboard with us :0)   Really nice people onboard.  We had done the Harmony the week before and had to admit the dining room chef on Navigator far outshined in the dinners, but we loved everything about both except both shore excursion staff.  Super appreciative to be sailing again and RCCL really shines.  Just really top notch crew and impeccable service. 

It never felt crowded and you did not need  a reservation for any of the shows, always seats available.  They did the iSkate multiple times and Showgirls twice on just our last day- both were mind-blowingly spectacular.  There was laser tag on our 4th day but the cruise director was not fully on top of things, never should have had it for only 90 minutes, the line AT the time of opening they were guessing was already probably 2 hours long.  Lots of disappointment.  And while we did not get to stop at Catalina due to strong currents, she should have changed the venue for the trivia type games as with everyone onboard they were stacked in tight and spilling into the hallways at Boleros.  It is only the 2nd time they have had to miss Catalina, the dining rooms and Windjammer did an absolutely awesome job of suddenly being ready to serve with everyone onboard.  

You are able to serve yourself in Windjammer, lines move quickly and plenty of stations, same with El Loco Fresh, it was excellent.  Playmakers, Johnny Rockets, Royal Cafe, everything seemed to work quickly, nice staff at Guest Services as well.  And that was with the ship probably as full as it has since reopening- so have a great cruise, I would do it again, great ship!!

BTW  our boarding time was 11, we got there at 10:45 and they were already just letting in anyone who arrived because they didn't have that many people waiting, but I know some 11:30 were ahead of us, they were just that prepared.  No guarantees but they were super efficient, from handing over our luggage in the terminal to stepping onboard only took 15 minutes.  Rooms were ready at 1:00. Everyone is out of their rooms at 8am on departure day, we had chosen the 8:50 departure slot by choice and we were called at 8:30, in our car by 8:50.  Could have gotten off earlier for those with early flights but we hear the traffic to LAX on a Friday is NOT quick, we are southern CA so were driving.  I wish they had done 7 day trips over spring break, that is an incredible ship!!

[Bleueyes44]

My daughter , son- in-law and granddaughter just got off on Fri also.  They  said the  same as T-2 crowds weren't  too bad except for the day they missed Catalina. What little there was to do everyone was trying to do something to full in part of the day. 

I'll  be on the sailing this Friday 22nd,hoping it won't  be too crowded.  I went in February and I  think there was only 1700.

[frank808]

Where did they have laser tag? Got off about 3 weeks ago and there was no laser tag. Best ice show I have ever seen of RCL ship. Agree food was great in MDR and crew was great (loved the washy washy singers in WJ).  Will be back in Sept and Oct on Navigator.

[drewdrewcruiser]

47 minutes ago, frank808 said:

Where did they have laser tag? Got off about 3 weeks ago and there was no laser tag. Best ice show I have ever seen of RCL ship. Agree food was great in MDR and crew was great (loved the washy washy singers in WJ).  Will be back in Sept and Oct on Navigator.

I was on the 4/11-4/15 sailing and I believe it was the first sailing to offer laser tag since the pandemic started.  They offered it on the last day. It was in Studio B.  Someone who seemed to be a veteran cruiser said it's always towards the end of the cruise because they do it after all the ice shows.  They also said laser tag isn't offered on 3 night sailings.  

[ronandannette]

We are on her now, currently anchored at Catalina. This sailing (May 16 - 20) has 1605 passengers and apparently less than 200 children. I must say the atmosphere lacks a certain buzz (early traditional dining is a ghost town) but the instant access to absolutely everything is very nice. 😀

 

The ship looks fantastic, all venues are open and the staff is having no trouble keeping up and service in all areas is uniformly excellent.

[rockmom]

5 minutes ago, ronandannette said:

We are on her now, currently anchored at Catalina. This sailing (May 16 - 20) has 1605 passengers and apparently less than 200 children. I must say the atmosphere lacks a certain buzz (early traditional dining is a ghost town) but the instant access to absolutely everything is very nice. 😀

 

The ship looks fantastic, all venues are open and the staff is having no trouble keeping up and service in all areas is uniformly excellent.

I'm boarding Friday.  I think the 3 night weekend cruises have been fairly full. Even when I did one in February, we were at about 2500 guest and they were very short-staffed at that time.  Hopefully that is better this time.  But I hear that the still have not fixed the pool heat and it's too cold to get in the pool other than doing a 'polar plunge'.  I was told in February that the heaters would be fixed by my May sailing, so I'm definitely bummed.  

[ronandannette]

On 5/18/2022 at 8:15 AM, rockmom said:

I'm boarding Friday.  I think the 3 night weekend cruises have been fairly full. Even when I did one in February, we were at about 2500 guest and they were very short-staffed at that time.  Hopefully that is better this time.  But I hear that the still have not fixed the pool heat and it's too cold to get in the pool other than doing a 'polar plunge'.  I was told in February that the heaters would be fixed by my May sailing, so I'm definitely bummed.  

I’m not sure if the pools were warm - we didn’t swim. The hot tubs were lovely and water slides weren’t icy even though the weather this week has been pretty unpleasant. Also disappointing and inexplicable is that there was no Showgirls or iSkate. Nothing at all for production shows (the theatre was actually dark one night) and the only performance in Studio B was a throw-away 30 minute skills showcase. Very unworthy entertainment line-up for what was otherwise a very impressive cruise. 

Edited May 20, 2022 by ronandannette

[pcur]

I was on the Navi from 4/27 - 5/13, and that included all the itineraries.  The number of passengers fluctuated from 900 - 3,000.  However, the 3,000 cruise was over Mother's Day weekend. 

 

I would NOT recommend a 3-day holiday weekend cruise, and not because of the crowds.  The ship is plenty large that you don't feel crushed (except maybe on the pool deck).  But, it was party central, for sure.  I'm OK with that, but when you have 1-3 Alpha calls (medical emergency) per DAY, with a large portion of the passengers under the age of 40.....well, draw your own conclusions.  Also, on debarkation day on 5/9, I was unfortunate enough to witness a young woman being escorted into the elevator lobby in handcuffs.  With 6 security and port authority officers.

 

So, the remainder of my cruises were fabulous.  I love the Navi, the food was excellent in the Windjammer, Main Dining Room, and specialty restaurants.  Crew is great, too. 

 

Ensenada is meh.  Read reviews before you buy shore excursions in Ensenada.  Catalina is gorgeous, and I always love Cabo San Lucas.

 

We were told by the onboard booking staff that they will start more 7 night Mexico cruises next year, too. 

[Ashland]

On 4/17/2022 at 10:10 PM, frank808 said:

Where did they have laser tag? Got off about 3 weeks ago and there was no laser tag. Best ice show I have ever seen of RCL ship. Agree food was great in MDR and crew was great (loved the washy washy singers in WJ).  Will be back in Sept and Oct on Navigator.

I went in January 7 nights..capacity was 1100...so very nice !!!

[neverbeenhere]

Three day weekend cruises:around 3,000

Four day weekday cruises:around 1,500

 

 

but summers coming, and schools out for summer. 

Edited May 20, 2022 by neverbeenhere

[frank808]

Will be back for B2B 5 night cruises in Sept. Then will be back in Oct for short B2B 7 night cruise. Less than full is better for cruising. But being a stock holder am hoping for full sailings 🤑.

[pcur]

23 hours ago, neverbeenhere said:

Three day weekend cruises:around 3,000

Four day weekday cruises:around 1,500

 

 

but summers coming, and schools out for summer. 

My Mon-Fri ending on 5/13 was a little over 900 passengers.

[rockmom]

I just got off on Monday (5/23) and we had 3100 on board. Pool heaters still broken--water freezing and I never saw anyone get into the pool for more than just a quick 'plunge'.  Weather was unseasonably cold, low 60's and drizzle on the day we sailed and the marine layer of clouds stayed very thick all of Friday and all of Saturday.  So not exactly pool weather and definitely not when the pools are like ice water.  Hot tubs were always busy.  On Sunday, Captain Johan came on to announce that he was pretty hopeful that we'd see some blue sky by around noon, for a few hours.  That was Sunday, so port day in Ensenada.  He was right!  Sun did come out for a few hours, but the thick cloud cover was back by about 4 pm.  I saw way more people in hoodies and sweatpants than any cruise I've been on, other than Alaska.  I did specialty dining, so not sure about how busy the MDR was, but Windjammer was busy during breakfasts each day, hard to find a table.  

[Coralc]

25 minutes ago, rockmom said:

I just got off on Monday (5/23) and we had 3100 on board. Pool heaters still broken--water freezing and I never saw anyone get into the pool for more than just a quick 'plunge'.  Weather was unseasonably cold, low 60's and drizzle on the day we sailed and the marine layer of clouds stayed very thick all of Friday and all of Saturday.  So not exactly pool weather and definitely not when the pools are like ice water.  Hot tubs were always busy.  On Sunday, Captain Johan came on to announce that he was pretty hopeful that we'd see some blue sky by around noon, for a few hours.  That was Sunday, so port day in Ensenada.  He was right!  Sun did come out for a few hours, but the thick cloud cover was back by about 4 pm.  I saw way more people in hoodies and sweatpants than any cruise I've been on, other than Alaska.  I did specialty dining, so not sure about how busy the MDR was, but Windjammer was busy during breakfasts each day, hard to find a table.  

We are definitely bringing sweatpants in September. We were out of practice and under packed for the cold weather at the end of April. 

[rockmom]

20 minutes ago, Coralc said:

We are definitely bringing sweatpants in September. We were out of practice and under packed for the cold weather at the end of April. 

I'm going on her again in September also.  It was actually warmer when I sailed on her in February than it was this past weekend.  The thing was, the weather forecast had been showing sunny and mid-70's right up until the day I flew to LA (Thursday), and this marine layer thing was sort of a weird, all of sudden change in the weather pattern and then hung around for days.  When I landed Thursday morning, it was like descending into cream soup.  

 

Edited May 25, 2022 by rockmom

[highloyo]

Just got off the 3 day cruise today. Pools were freezing cold. Water slides not too bad.  There were about 1800 passengers according to the Captain.